Ethical Consumption and Its Development in Contemporary Society (Konsumpcja etyczna i jej rozwoj we wspolczesnym spoleczenstwie)

In the paper, the subject matter of deliberations is the ethical approach to consumption. The author discusses the issue of ethical consumption, which is perceived as a subject and means of moral action. Three approaches to defining ethical consumption are described. In the first one, ethical consumption is seen in relation to consumer goods with an ethical value. In the second one, consumer practices are analysed from the perspective of ethics. The final one illustrates the ties between political activity and being a responsible consumer. The following question is posed: Is the concept of ethical consumption merely an idea propagated by scientists or a real perspective for change in terms of consumption? In order to answer that question, the results of empirical research on the scope and degree of prevalence of ethical consumption in various communities are analysed. This review reveals that significant potential exists for the attitudes characteristic of ethical consumption among consumers, with simultaneous existence of differences between particular communities.